Sir, - Your Editorial on "NATO Enlargement" (March 13th) suggests that in the wake of the Cold War NATO had to "invent a new mandate for itself". You mention, moreover, that the US wishes to extend NATO operations "outside its territorial areas".
Why is NATO now undertaking action ostensibly on behalf of the UN? After all, the function of an alliance is to promote the interests of its members. Can it then credibly create "a new mandate for itself" to represent the international community? The UN alone enjoys the requisite authority and legitimacy to serve all countries by common consent.
One thing more: NATO was brought into being to face the Warsaw Pact threat. With the latter's demise, why did NATO not cease to exist? - Yours, etc.,
J. A. Barnwell, St Patrick's Road, Dublin 9.